Skip Times Square when visiting New York City
By Darren Cronian on Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

When you travel you will always find someone who has had a negative experience, and they feel that you should know about it. I always want to visit places to experience it for myself, but when I read that Conde Nast, tell you to skip visiting Times Square I was surprised.

Skip Times Square when visiting New York City

Last year, I visited New York City, and I loved walking around Times Square during the day and in the evening. I felt safe, and sure, they were loads of tackiness with souvenir shops and neon lights, but that was all part of the experience visiting New York.

Here’s the advice on the Conciege.com New York City guide

What to skip – Times Square: Made safe for gawkers, hawkers, chain stores, lousy food—and annoyed locals. Get in, take a picture, and get out.

Would I advise you to take the advice and skip Times Square, no way?

I think you need to sit in Times Square to get the atmosphere, see the hustle and bustle of the city. I never saw any annoyed locals – sure there are chain stores, but if you try to avoid them, wouldn’t you be skipping every tourist attraction in New York City?

So, my question is – do you agree with Conde Nast? I don’t.


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11 responses to “Skip Times Square when visiting New York City”

Judith Abraham | 26 January, 2011 at 12:34 am

I love Times Square and from memory Conde Nast offices overlook Times Square. I was invited to the offices of Teen Vogue several years ago and that was a stunning moment, looking out the window over the hustle and bustle of New York city. Brilliant place!

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Gurpreet | 26 January, 2011 at 12:44 am

I agree with the Conde Nast advice – I get you enjoyed experiencing it, and I did too when I went there…for about 5 mins before getting bored. The advice is good because, unless you live there, you have limited time and there are other experiences that that time would be better spent on.

If you do go to Times Square, I’d advise the best time to go is in the middle of the night, so you can have the experience of being astonished at the levels of crowds at 3-4am in the morning.

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maria | 26 January, 2011 at 9:07 am

I agree with you Darren, you can not go to New York and not feel the vibe that Times Square has. Probably it’s not the best place to have dinner but it’s worth the visit :)

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Paul Smith | 26 January, 2011 at 9:19 am

Excellent topic for a post ;)

It’s no coincidence that’s Conde Nast’s offices are located on 42nd St, overlooking Times Square. I’m sure the tourists and crowds piss off staff during their commute every day of the week.

Times Square is quintessentially NYC, as iconic and as worthy as any other experience. It’s a sight that tourists know intimately from a lifetime of television and film. It’s worth visiting in the day and at night.

Oddly, when it comes to the likes of London and Barcelona, Concierge can’t recommend the tourist traps highly enough. Travel is subjective and, in this instance, very much a matter of perspective.

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Barry | 26 January, 2011 at 5:09 pm

Time square is a must when in New York. I understand that some travelers don’t like the “vibe” of time square, and that is fine. But how are you to know if you will or wont like it if you never go?

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Rob | 26 January, 2011 at 10:22 pm

I went to Time Square a few years ago. There was some guy in his underpants playing a guitar. Very disturbing and the bars weren’t even open.

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Rebecca Heights | 27 January, 2011 at 4:27 pm

I did not believe you at first until I clicked on the link and saw the advice for my own eyes. It is not an area of the city that you would not spend much time in, but you would walk around and take it all in.

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Sam | 27 January, 2011 at 6:05 pm

Stupid Stupid Stupid. Would people skip seeing the Big Ben because of the hoards of tourists and locals trying to get to the underground. No.

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Emma | 31 January, 2011 at 4:41 pm

I’m visiting NYC for the first time this May and will definitely be paying Times Square a visit!

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Isabelle | 31 January, 2011 at 5:36 pm

I wouldn`t skip Times Square when visiting NY. It is a highlight of the city you should just experience even for a moment. I have to admit the first time I visited NY, I stood at Times Square without noticing, so it wasn`t that busy back then ;-) And it was probably because it was during daytime, nighttime is definitely when to go with all the bill boards and lights! Yes, it`s touristy and tacky, but does that mean you shouldn`t see it? I don`t think so!

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James | 31 January, 2011 at 9:57 pm

I agree tourists should also skip Circular Quay – Sydney, Bondi Beach ( no you can really skip this there are other beaches) Piccadilly Circus – London, Definatly skip the Eiffle Tower – Paris (very overated), would give the pyramids a miss mainly due to the political situtaton – but they are pile of rocks!

I have the feeling that maybe the article was written by someone in Conde Nast just wanted to get home from the office and can’t cope with the crowds in Times Square. Maybe they should write on Australian Country Fairs, no crowds just lots of tea cosies!

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